Documents associated with: Kennedy, David A.
Record 16 of 33
System Number: 09739
Date: [28 March 1896][1]
Author: JW
Place: London
Recipient: Edward Guthrie Kennedy[2]
Place: New York
Repository: New York Public Library
Call Number: E. G. Kennedy II/77
Credit Line: Edward Guthrie Kennedy Papers / Manuscripts and Archives Division / The New York Public Library / Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations
Document Type: ALS
[Savoy coat of arms:] SAVOY HOTEL
SAVOY HOTEL,
VICTORIA EMBANKMENT,
LONDON.
My dear Kennedy O K! -
Your letter to me in answer to mine, is like yourself - warm hearted and true! - I wrote to you the other day - and was able to send you better news - But it is a long and slow matter: and one of continued watching and care and anxiety! However we are all as happy as we were miserable, on the slightest encouragement the Lady[3] gives us! - I have given her all your messages and she says to you many charming kind things in return. -
Now. The Firewheel[4] I hear has arrived - though the Express Co. say that they may not [p. 2] have it until tomorrow or Monday - when it will be at once delivered in Chelsea - (By the way always write to me - 36 Tite Street - for we move about as you know - but Tite St. is all right) -
The two full lengths[5] - well I cannot let them go as they are now - I mean without doing any thing to them - I wish I could - However I will see what I can do - and then think out a price -
The Smith[6] - Well I think you would like that - but my dear OK! it has not been seen here at all! I mean also Paris! and I fancy you would like me to show it! Also the price I know you would think alarming! - Well -
My own portrait[7] - Alas! - that also must be left for the brighter days when I can again be in the fine old Studio that you know so well. -
Lithographs - Those have been going on - and I am now doing the best work of that kind, by far, that I have ever done - I wonder how you will like the ones out of the window here[8] - also the St. Anne's Church[9] -
I received the NY. Tribune all right - and see that you have enjoyed the little letter to Prange[10]! - What an extraordinary thing it is that the "Priest's House[11]" should be the favourite! - I am really rather ashamed of it, & was very nearly destroying the stone! However I suppose you will only think that an affectation of "pure cussidness"! -
Of course it is all right about the prices - and what you are committed to you can stand by - But for the future you can show the list that your brother[12] brought over.
Do thank him from me with my kindest regards for all the trouble he has taken about the Papine[13] - I hope though that we shall now be able to do without any more of these preparations!
Now there is to be an exhaustive article on Whistlers lithographs in Scribner's[14] - and Mr Jacacci[15] with whom I have arranged is going to [p. 3] call on you - and ask you to help him in the way of reproducing a lot - It will of course all be to the good - especially just now for your Exhibition and it would be known that you are the only one from whom in America the proofs can be had -
Now this will have to go - and I will write more -
Again with kindest and affectionate messages to you & your brother
Always
Yours
J McNeill Whistler
I am sending proofs - with list -
They are damp and ought to be put in press at once -
This document is protected by copyright.
Envelope:
'Mar. 28. 1896'
'1896'
E. G. Kennedy. Esq.
Messrs Wunderlich -
868. Broadway -
New York -
U. S. A.
[stamp:] POSTAGE AND INLAND REVENUE / ONE PENNY
[stamp:] POSTAGE & REVENUE / 2 1/2d
[postmark:] BEDFORD ST. / S.O / W. C. / MR 28 / 95 [sic]
[on verso:] SAVOY HOTEL,
VICTORIA EMBANKMENT,
LONDON.
[postmark on verso:] NEW YORK. N. Y. STA O. 1896 / APR 4 / 5-PM
[postmark on verso:] P.O.N.Y. / 3 / 4-4-96 / PAID ALL
[written by Knnedy:] '"the lady" is his wife'
Notes:
1. 28 March 1896
Dated from the postmark and the date written in another hand on the envelope.
2. Edward Guthrie Kennedy
Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932), dealer with H. Wunderlich and Co., New York [more]. JW called him O'K. He had written to JW on 13 March 1896, #07274, #07273.
3. Lady
Beatrix Whistler (1857-1896), née Beatrice Philip, artist [more]. She was critically ill with cancer.
4. Firewheel
Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Fire Wheel (YMSM 169).
5. two full lengths
Rose et or: La Tulipe (YMSM 418) and Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalusian (YMSM 378).
6. Smith
The Master Smith of Lyme Regis (YMSM 450) was sold to Kennedy.
7. portrait
Brown and Gold (YMSM 440).
8. window here
Savoy Pigeons (C.154), Evening, Little Waterloo Bridge (C.155), Waterloo Bridge (C.156), Charing Cross Railway Bridge (C.157) and Little London (C.158), all show views out of the window at the Savoy Hotel.
9. St. Anne's Church
St Anne's, Soho (C.162).
10. Prange
Francis Gerard Prange (b. ca 1843), London art dealer [more].
11. Priest's House
The Priest's House, Rouen (C.105).
12. brother
David A. Kennedy, New York dealer, brother of E. G. Kennedy [more].
13. Papine
A brand of opiate patent medicine produced by Battle & Co., Chemists, St Louis, MO. This would lessen Beatrix Whistler's pain, or help her sleep.
14. Mr Jacacci
Augusto Floriano Jaccaci (1857-1930), editor of Scribner's Magazine [more].
15. Scribner's
Pennell, Elizabeth Robins, 'The Master of the Lithograph - James McNeill Whistler,' Scribner's Magazine, vol. 21, no. 3, March 1897, pp. 277-289.